SPEAKING PART TWO: TEST QUESTIONS
Part two of the speaking test contains three questions. The first asks you to deliver a speech limited to two minutes. The second and third questions are quick follow-up questions (related to the speech topic) that can usually be answered very quickly.
These questions ask test-takers to describe an event, object or place. These can be from the past, present, future or hypothetical.
Once the two minutes starts, the examiner will not speak unless you can no longer continue. You do not have to speak for the entire two minutes, but if your speech finishes too soon, you will be marked down.
You do not have to answer all parts of the question you are given. Only the first sentence is mandatory:
Although the questions for part three are more difficult, it is usually part two that really damages a test-taker’s score. Far too often test-takers speak in only one tense and repeat basic mistakes throughout the two minutes. The examiner will not award higher than a 5 if you do this.
To avoid this common problem you should learn a speaking strategy (such as the one on this speaking course) that helps you use a range of tenses and easily continue speaking for two minutes.
Also remember, IELTS is not an interview, so you DO NOT have to answer truthfully. The examiner is only interested in the quality of your English responses. For this reason it is a good idea to practice answering questions twice; once with a true answer and once with an invented response.
A GIFT YOU GAVE SOMEONE
Describe a gift you gave to someone that took you a long time to choose.
You should say:
– what the gift was
– who you gave this gift to
– how the person felt about this gift
and explain why it took you a long time to choose this gift.
A FOREIGN LANGUAGE SPEAKER
Describe a person you know who has learned to speak a foreign language well.
You should say:
– what foreign language he/she speaks
– how often he/she uses this language
– what he/she uses this language for
and explain how you think this person learned to speak this language so well.
A FUNNY CHILD
Describe a time when a child did something that made you laugh.
You should say:
– who the child was
– what the child did
– where and when this happened
and explain what this child did that made you laugh.
A PLACE YOU GO TO RELAX
Describe a place – not your home – where you go to relax.
You should say:
– where the place is
– what the place looks like
– how you spend your time in this place
and explain why this place helps you to relax.
PAID WORK
Describe some paid work that you or someone you know enjoyed doing.
You should say:
– what the work was
– when and where you/the person you know did the work
– how long you /the person you know did this work
and explain why this work was enjoyable
AN HISTORIC BUILDING
Describe an historic building you enjoyed visiting.
You should say:
– where the historic building was
– what the historic building was used for
– why you visited it
and explain what you enjoyed about visiting this historic building.
DISAGREEING WITH A FRIEND
Describe a time when you and a friend disagreed about something.
You should say:
– what you disagreed about
– why you disagreed
– what happened as a result of the disagreement
and explain how you felt about having this disagreement.
A MACHINE YOU WOULD LIKE TO BUY
Describe a machine or something electronic you would like to buy.
You should say:
– what it is
– how you know about it
– what special features you would like it to have
and explain why you would like to buy it.
A STAGE IN YOUR LIFE YOU ENJOYED THE MOST
Describe the stage in your life which you have enjoyed most.
You should say:
– what stage it was
– where you were living
– what you were doing
and explain why you enjoyed this stage in your life so much
A PHOTOGRAPH IN YOUR HOME
Describe a picture or photograph you have in your home that you like very much.
You should say:
– what the picture/photograph shows
– where the picture/photograph is in your home
– how you got this picture/photograph
and explain why you like this picture/photograph so much.
AN ACTIVITY YOU DO TO KEEP FIT
Describe an activity you do that helps you to keep fit.
You should say:
– what the activity is
– how often you do this activity
– how easy or difficult it is to do this activity
and explain how important this activity is in helping you to keep fit
A CAFE YOU ENJOY VISITING
Describe a cafe or a restaurant which you enjoy visiting.
You should say:
– where it is
– what kind of food it serves
– how often you go there
and explain why you enjoy visiting this cafe or restaurant.
A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY
Describe a successful small company that you know about.
You should say:
– what sort of work the company does
– how you know about this company
– what you know about it
and explain why you think this company is successful.
AN EDUCATIONAL VISIT YOU WENT ON AT SCHOOL
Describe an educational visit or trip you went on when you were at school.
You should say:
– where you went
– what you did
– what you learned
and explain how you felt about the educational visit or trip.
A TIME YOU WERE SURPRISED TO MEET SOMEONE YOU KNOW
Describe a time when you were very surprised to meet someone you know.
You should say:
– who you met
– where and when you met this person
– what you did when you met this person
and explain why it was such a surprise o meet this person.
A CHANGE WHICH WOULD IMPROVE YOUR LOCAL AREA
Describe a change which you think would improve your local area.
You should say:
– what the change would be
– how this change could be made
– what problems there might be in making this change
and explain how you think this change would improve your local area.
A TEAM YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF
Describe a team (for example sports, work) you have been part of.
You should say:
– what the team did
– who was in the team
– when you became part of the team
and explain why you became part of the team.
AN INDOOR GAME YOU ENJOYED AS A CHILD
Describe an indoor game you enjoyed playing as a child
You should say:
– what the indoor game was
– when you played the game
– who you played it with
and explain why you enjoyed playing the indoor game.
A SERIES OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Describe a series of educational programmes that you have seen
You should say:
– how you found out about this series
– when and where you watched it
– what the series was about
and explain what you liked or disliked in this educational television series.
GETTING UP EXTREMELY EARLY
Describe an occasion when you remember getting up extremely early
You should say:
– what time you got up
– why you had to get up so early
– what you did that morning
and explain why you remember this occasion when you got up extremely early.
A GARDEN OR PARK YOU ENJOYED SPENDING TIME IN
Describe a garden or park you enjoyed spending time in
You should say:
– where this garden or park was
– what the park or garden looked like
– what you did there
and explain why you enjoyed spending time there
SOMETHING IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
Describe something you think it would be interesting to learn more about.
You should say:
– what it is
– how you first became interested in this
– how you could learn more about it
and explain why you think it would be interesting to learn more about this.
A SPECIAL TRIP YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE
Describe a special trip you would like to make in the future
You should say:
– where you want to go
– who you would like to go with
– how you would prepare for the trip
and explain why this trip would be special.
SOMETHING YOU BOUGHT YOU WERE SATISFIED WITH
Describe something you bought that you were satisfied with.
You should say:
– what you bought
– where you bought it
– what is it used for
and explain why you felt satisfied with this purchase.